Discord started as a free communication tool for gamers, originally created to cater to their need for voice and text chat while playing. Today, the platform boasts over 300 million users globally, with a growing audience beyond the gaming community, including music lovers, students, and crypto enthusiasts. Despite its widespread success, Discord emerged from a failed video game project by its creator, Jason Citron, highlighting how setbacks can lead to unexpected triumphs.

Who Created Discord?

Discord was founded in 2015 by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy, two developers who initially focused on video game development. After the failure of their mobile game Fates Forever, Citron pivoted to building a platform to meet the communication needs of gamers. Their goal was to create a unified space for chatting, sharing, and building communities—all in one app.

Meaning and History of Discord

The name Discord reflects its original purpose and the idea of communication in a fragmented world. Despite its name suggesting "disagreement," Discord was designed to bridge gaps and foster connection, especially among gamers. It quickly grew into a global messaging platform, with communities for a variety of interests.

Interestingly, the platform’s evolution mirrors its creators’ failure with their previous project, where the most successful aspect was the game’s chat feature. This insight ultimately shaped the foundation of Discord.

What is Discord?

Discord is an online platform that enables users to communicate via text, voice, and video across various topics, from gaming to music and crypto. It's structured into servers—virtual spaces where users can join discussions based on their interests. Servers can be public or invitation-only, and they are largely moderated by the community. Its flexibility in user anonymity and customization of server experiences has contributed to its explosive growth.

Discord Logo Evolution

The Discord logo has undergone several iterations since the platform's launch.

2015-2021: The Original Logo

The original Discord logo featured a stylized game controller set against a purple dialogue bubble, symbolizing the platform's origins in gaming communication. The controller had two blue dots that resembled eyes, leading many to associate the logo with a smiling crab or even a superhero mask. This playful, unique design was paired with bold, angular lettering.

2021-Present: The Refined Logo

In 2021, Discord revamped its logo, maintaining the recognizable game controller icon, now in purple, but with a more refined and timeless design. The controller, now officially named Clyde, is set against a white background. The lettering was also updated to a cleaner, more traditional sans-serif font with an arched smile integrated into the letter “I”, symbolizing the friendly, welcoming atmosphere the platform aims to provide.

Font and Color Palette

The Discord font uses a custom sans-serif typeface, inspired by traditional fonts like Uni Sans Heavy. The **“D”**s in the wordmark are modified with diagonal cuts, balancing the sharp angles of the icon. The color palette combines purple and white, representing creativity, trustworthiness, and calmness. Purple suggests innovation and wisdom, while white symbolizes loyalty and togetherness.

What Animal is the Discord Logo?

Although Discord's official mascot is Clyde the Bot, the logo has often been likened to a crab, due to the shape of the controller's button placements, which resemble eyes, and the curved lines that resemble a smile.

Discord's logo and branding have evolved to reflect its broader user base while maintaining the core principles of gaming, communication, and community-building. From its origins as a tool for gamers to its current status as a platform for diverse interests, Discord has successfully crafted a visual identity that mirrors its expansive and inclusive mission.